Aizawl (zoramobserver.com): Various opposition parties and civil bodies including the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) blamed the Congress-led state government for “mishandling” the Chakma quota issue.

The youth wing of the main opposition party the Mizo National Front (MNF) while expressing regret over the inclusion of Chakma students in Mizoram’s MBBS quota under category-I to share privilege with the indigenous Mizo/Zo tribes, blamed the police and government officials for using force against the agitating students during an anti-Chakma quota protest last Thursday.

“We condemned the police and government officials for brutality against the students and we demanded the state government to give compensation to all the students injured in police lathi-charge during a protest on Thursday. We don’t want such incident or brutality be repeated in the future,” a statement issued by MNF youth said on Saturday.

Earlier on Friday, MNF president Zoramthanga, while addressing party workers at Mizo Hnam Run, expressed regret over the clash between police and agitating students. He blamed the government as “an instigator”. He said that such incident would not have happened if the MNF had been in power.

BJP silent on quota issue

BJP Mizoram unit though refrained from castigating government for the inclusion of Chakma students in Mizoram’s MBBS quota slammed Mizoram police for using force against the protesting students.

The BJP in a statement demanded the state government to give compensation to all the students injured in a police clash during a protest on last Thursday. Quoting Higher & Technical Education Minister R. Romawia who said on September 23, 2014 that he would resign if such Chakma quota issue re-occurs, he would be the “first to be jailed”, the BJP said “the minister must resigned”.

Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) slammed both MNF and Congress, saying that they have no moral authority to say on Chakma quota issue.

Addressing a party meeting on Friday, ZNP vice president Kenneth Chawngliana said both Congress and MNF are equally responsible for the “influx of Chakma foreigners” from Bangladesh. “Both parties have kept silent on the Chakma issue because they have nothing to say,” he said.

The Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) also blamed Congress for the unending Chakma issue in Mizoram.

“The reason why Chakma illegal infiltrators have permanently settled in Mizoram is because the power-hungry Congress wanted their votes,” MPC said in a statement.

YMA against inclusion of Chakmas in Category I

The Central Committee of the Young Mizo Association (CYMA) , the largest civil body in the state also voiced its support to MZP’s in its protest against the inclusion of Chakma in MBBS quota under category-I.

“The inclusion of Chakma students under category-I of the state’s quota for technical courses is extremely unfortunate. It is an encroachment on the rights of the sons of the soil,” YMA said in a statement and urged the state government to ensure that the rights of the indigenous Mizos/Zo ethnic tribes are not encroached upon.